Combination ironing-board and step-ladder.



M. W. SMITH. COMBINATION IRONING BOARD AND STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1912 Patented Apr. 8, 1913..

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

M. W. SMITH.

COMBINATION IRONING BOARD AND STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19,1912.

Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ammmto'r, Mrwflmiiiz/ Pu co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

MARTIN W. SMITH, OF ENID, OKLAHOMA.

COMBINATION IRONINGr-BOARD AND STEP-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

7 Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

Application filed June 19, 1912. Serial No. 704,650.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN W. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Enid, in the county of Garfield and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Ironing-Boards and Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has for its primary object a simple, durable and efficient construction of combined ironing-board and step-ladder provided with means for conveniently holding a basin at dilferent elevations on the device when it is converted into a step-ladder.

A further object of the invention is an improved device of this character, the parts of which may be cheaply manufactured and readily assembled and which will not be liable to get out of order, the strut frame which comprises a part of the means for holding the ironing-board level, being so connected to the ladder portion of the device that said frame will be entirely out of the way and not interfere in any wise with the apparatus when converted'into a step-ladder.

The invention also has for its object an improved combination device of this type in which the leg standard which is pivotally and slidingly connected to the ironingboard, is so arranged that it may be easily moved into an operative position relative to the board when the device is converted into a step-ladder and is further so arranged that it may be reversed for engagement with the strut frame when the device is converted into an ironing-board or table.

A still further object of the invention is an improved combination ironing-board and step-ladder in which there is connected to the said leg standard, a pair of laterally swinging legs with means for holding said legs in downwardly diverging relation to each other below' the ironing-board, so as to properly brace the parts as against any laterally tilting tendency when the device is converted into a step-ladder, suitable spring latches being provided to hold the legs in such position which when released, may be moved inwardly so as to lie within the side margins of the board when the device is arranged for use as an ironing table. And the invention also aims to generally improve devices ofthis class and to render commercially desirtions of the parts that I shall. hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device arranged as a step-ladder. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device arranged as an ironing-board or table, a part of the board being broken out for obvious reasons. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, partly in section, the elevation being taken approximately on the line 33, of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44:, of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55, of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 66, of Fig. 1, and, Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing the basin holder in top plan View.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the accompanying drawing by like reference characters.

I Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 designates a board which, when the parts are arranged in one position, constitutes an ironing-board or'table, being tapered at one end in the usual manner, as shown, said board being provided at its opposite end with hinge brackets 2, to Which'stiles 3 are pivotally connected at one end. Said stiles are connected at predetermined intervals by cross bars 4: which constitute rungs or steps for the step-ladder, said rungs or steps being preferably secured at their ends to angular brackets 5 and trussed by rods 6, so as to reinforce and strengthen them. The top step is comprised by a hinged bar 7 designed to rest upon the adjoining ends of the stiles 3 when the latter are arranged in substantially vertical position with the device converted into a step-ladder.

In order to connect the ladder proper With' the board 1, which in one position of the parts, serves as a support therefor, I have provided a bail 8, which is pivotally connected at its ends to the stiles 3, the board being formed with a socket 9 partially covered by a'notched plate 10 for engagement with the head 11 of the bail 8, wherebysaid bail may be swung down and its head detachably connected to the board so as to hold the board and ladder in properly spaced relation to each other.

The board 1 is provided on its relatively lower face with a longitudinally disposed transversely apertured lug 12 in which a pintle rod 13 is secured, said pintle rod extending laterally on both sides of the lug 12 and having its ends received in a longitudinal slot 14: which is formed in one end of a leg standard 15. The said standard is also. formed with a longitudinal slot 17 which accommodates the lug 12, as clearly illustrated in the drawings, and it will thus be understood that'said standard may be moved longitudinally of the board and also be swung around the lug 12 and pintle 13 as an axis. The standard 15 is provided intermediate of its ends with laterally projecting straps 18 to which legs 19 are pivotally connected at one end, for a laterally swinging movement, said legs being formed intermediate of their ends with openings 20, whereby they may slip inwardly upon the ends of a cross bar 21 secured to the standard 15 at or near one end of the latter. In order to hold the legs 19 in divergent relation to each other, I provide them with spring latches 22 which are designed to snap into sockets 23 that are formed in one edge of the cross bar 21. In inoperative positions, the legs 19 are swung inwardly so as to lie snugly against the opposite sides of the stand-ard 15.

From as much of the descriptionas has preceded, in connection with the correlated views of the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that when the device is to be used asa step-ladder, the legs 19 will be spread apart and held in downwardly divergent relation to each other by means of the spring latches 22 and the stiles 3 will be connected to the board 1 by the bail connection or brace 8 before mentioned, while the topmost step 7 will be swung down so as to rest upon the adjoining upper ends of the stiles. Thus, the device can be easily arranged for use as a step-ladder for the purpose of hanging curtains, washing windows or the like, and in order that a basin may be securely held supported by the device at different elevations as required, according to the particular work in hand, I secure to the stiles 3 at predetermined intervals and between any desired steps, brackets 24, any one of which is designed to receive and hold the stem or shank 25 of a basin holder 26, which isin the form of a ring, as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

As set forth at the outset of the specification, it is one of the objects of my invention to provide a convertible article of furniture which may be used as an ironing-board or table as well as a step-ladder. To accomplish this result, I employ a strut frame '27 which embodies stiles 28 which are pivotally connected intermediate of their ends to the outer sides of the stiles 3, whereby they may be alined with the stiles 3, when not required for use, the stiles 28 being connected at their lower ends by a cross bar 29 and at their upper ends by across bar 30. When the device 1s to be used as an ironing-board or table, the legs 19 are slipped inwardly to their inoperative positions, and the standard 15 is drawn along the pintle reversed in its position and then pushedto the other end of the slot 1 1, in which position, it will expose its notches 31 for en' gagement by the upper cross bar 30, whereby the stiles 3 and stiles 28 will cross each other, as best illustrated in Fig. 2, and serve to securely hold the board .1 in a horizontal position.

lVhile the accompanying drawings illustrate what I believe to be the preferred em bodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as various changes may be made in the construction, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the? scope of the invention, as defined in the pended claims.

WVhat I claim is 1. A combined ironing board and step lad; der, including a board, stiles hingedly connected to said board, a standard, a connec tion between the board and standard, whereby the standard may be reversed end for end, legs carried by said standard andprojecting beyond one end thereof and arranged in one position of said standard to project beyond the board to assist the board in holding the stiles in an approximately vertical position, a strut frame pivotally connected to said stiles, and means included in said strut frame for engaging the other end of:

the standard in the reversed position of the latter from that in which it assists the board: in supporting the stiles, for assisting the stiles in holding the board in a substantially horizontal position.

2. A device of the character described, in cluding a board, stiles hingedly connected to said board, cross bar connections between said stiles, a leg standard having a swinging and sliding connection with said board, a cross bar secured'to said standard, laterally swinging legs pivotally connected to said standard on opposite sides thereof and formed with openings designed to receive the ends of said cross bar, and latches carried by said legs and engageable with said cross bar, whereby the legs may be held in divergent relation to each other.

3. A combined step ladder and ironingboard, including a board, stiles hingedly rod 13 and connected to said board, a leg standard, the board being provided with a transversely apertured lug, a pintle rod connected to said lug, the leg standard being formed with registering longitudinal slots receiving the ends of said pintle rod and with another longitudinal slot accommodating said lug, the standard being thereby slidingly and pivotally mounted on said pintle rod, and laterailly swinging legs carried by said standar 4. A combined ironing board and step ladder, including a board, stiles hingedly connected to said board, a standard, a connection between the board and the standard, whereby the standard may be reversed end for end, the standard being formed on one face and at one end thereof with notches, a strut frame embodying stiles pivotally con- M Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the nected to the first named stiles, a cross bar engageable in said notches for interlocking connection with one end of the standard in one position of the latter, for the purpose specified, and legs carried by the standard and projecting from the other end thereof, whereby the reversal of said standard end for end from the position where its notched end is engageable by said cross bar, will project the legs beyond one end of the board and assist the board in supporting the stiles with the latter in an approximately vertical position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. MARTIN W. SMITH. Witnesses:

CHAs. P. CANsLnR, POLK CANSLER.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

